Howard County, Maryland - County Development Fees
Howard County | Charter county | Baltimore-Washington Corridor | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson MSA | County seat: Ellicott City | FIPS 24027
Howard County is a charter county in Maryland's Baltimore-Washington Corridor. The Howard County Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) administers zoning, subdivision, site development, and water and sewer facilities review fees through fee schedules adopted as part of the FY26 Howard County budget effective July 1, 2025. Building permit fees are administered separately by the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits (DILP). Water and sewer connection (tap) charges are administered separately by the Department of Public Works Bureau of Utilities.
Recent Fee Changes
Howard County DPZ FY26 Fee Schedules effective July 1, 2025. Both the Land Development and Zoning Fee Schedule and the Water and Sewer Facilities Review Fee Schedule were adopted as part of the FY26 Howard County budget process. The FY26 cycle covers July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.
The DPZ Applications, Forms and Fees landing on howardcountymd.gov enumerates 10 FY26 fee categories: Plan Review Fees, Engineering Review Fees, Engineering Unit Prices, Forest Conservation Fees, Landscape Inspection Surety, Water and Sewer Facilities Fees (the review-side schedule below), Land Development and Zoning Fees (the zoning-side schedule below), Soil Conservation Review Fees, Drainage and Stormwater Management Fees. The two schedules verified verbatim on this page are Land Development and Zoning Fees and Water and Sewer Facilities Fees. The remaining FY26 schedules are queued for a later verification pass.
Fee Summary
| Fee Type | Status | Top-Line Figure | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoning Board Map Amendments | Confirmed | $2,000 base + $2/acre revisions if granted ($45 min, $240 max) + $510 additional hearing + $50 poster | July 1, 2025 (DPZ FY26) |
| Comprehensive Zoning Map Amendments | Confirmed | $1,500 per amendment | July 1, 2025 (DPZ FY26) |
| Zoning Text Amendments (ZRAs) | Confirmed | $2,500 per amendment | July 1, 2025 (DPZ FY26) |
| Conditional Uses, Variances, Sign Variances | Confirmed | $2,500 + $50 poster (Conditional Use); $820 / $2,375 + $50 poster (Variance, by zoning); $310 + $50 poster (Sign Variance) | July 1, 2025 (DPZ FY26) |
| Water and Sewer Facilities Review (Construction Inspection Work Charge) | Confirmed | $600/lot SFD or $250/lot Townhome (no minor subs); $800 lump sum + $7/linear foot field inspection (minor subs / site development / private 8" or larger) | July 1, 2025 (DPZ FY26; HC Code 16.130/16.131) |
| Impact-Tax-Equivalent Program (school surcharge, transportation impact tax) | Not verified via official sources | Maryland counties typically use a school facilities surcharge or transportation impact tax rather than the TX-style statutory impact fee regime; Howard County's specific schedule was not located via official sources this pass (3 substitute paths probed, all returned 404 or non-fee content) | - |
| Utility Tap Fees (water and sewer connection) | Administered separately | Howard County DPW Bureau of Utilities administers connection (tap) fees on a separate schedule; not in the DPZ namespace verified on this page | - |
| Proffers | Not applicable | Maryland counties do not use Virginia-style cash proffers | - |
| Special District Fees | Does not apply | Columbia Association is a private community association, not a County government instrumentality; no County-administered special tax district imposes development fees outside the DPZ schedules already captured | - |
Zoning, Planning, and Subdivision Application Fees
Zoning, planning, and subdivision application fees are published in the Howard County DPZ Land Development and Zoning Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2025, adopted via the FY26 Howard County budget process. Administered by: Howard County Department of Planning and Zoning.
Zoning Map and Text Amendments
| Application Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Zoning Board Map Amendments (base) | $2,000.00 |
| Map revisions if granted | $2.00 per acre (minimum $45.00, maximum $240.00) |
| Additional hearing | $510.00 |
| Poster fee (zoning board cases) | $50.00 |
| Comprehensive Zoning Map Amendments | $1,500.00 per amendment |
| Zoning Text Amendments (ZRAs) | $2,500.00 per amendment |
| Preliminary Development Plan and Criteria | $2,000.00 base; if granted, petitioner pays $15.00 per acre |
Board of Appeals / Hearing Examiner
| Application Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Conditional Uses | $2,500.00 + $50.00 poster |
| Variance (residentially zoned) | $820.00 + $50.00 poster |
| Variance (other zoning) | $2,375.00 + $50.00 poster |
| Variance (recommended by Design Advisory Panel) | $0.00 |
| Modification of Conditions Decision and Order | $500.00 + $50.00 poster |
| Appeal to Board of Appeals | $2,050.00 + $50.00 poster |
| Sign Variance | $310.00 + $50.00 poster |
| Administrative Appeals | $1,500.00 |
Administrative Adjustments and Permits
| Application Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Administrative Adjustments - Bulk Regulations | $400.00 + $50.00 poster |
| Administrative Adjustments - Temporary Uses | $150.00 + $50.00 poster |
| Subsequent hearings | $100.00 |
| Nonconforming Use Confirmation | $500.00 + $50.00 poster |
| Demolition (principal structure or historic accessory) | $400.00 |
| Demolition (non-historic accessory) | $100.00 |
| Accessory apartments / home occupations | $25.00 |
| Home-based contractor's permit | $200.00 |
Subdivision and Plan Changes
| Application Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Correction Plat / Resubdivision | $300.00 per sheet |
| Major Plan Changes | 50% of original fee, minimum $270.00 |
Source: Howard County DPZ Land Development and Zoning Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2025 (2-page PDF retrieved from howardcountymd.gov DPZ resource namespace; fee figures are verbatim from the published schedule).
Water and Sewer Facilities Review Fees
The Howard County DPZ Review and Approval of Water and Sewer Facilities for Subdivisions and Site Development fee schedule is effective July 1, 2025. Adopted pursuant to Section 16.130 of the Howard County Code (developer pays for costs of public improvements per Section 16.131). Administered by: Howard County Department of Planning and Zoning. Note: these are review and inspection fees only - they are not water and sewer connection (tap) charges. Tap charges are administered separately by the Howard County DPW Bureau of Utilities and are not included on this page.
Construction Inspection Work Charge (NON-REBATABLE)
| Project Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Single Family Detached lot (R-12, R-20, etc.) | $600.00 per lot - no minor subdivisions |
| Townhome / Cluster Home lot | $250.00 per lot - no minor subdivisions |
| Minor Subdivisions, Site Development Plans | $800.00 lump sum administration and project coordination + $7.00 per linear foot field inspection |
| Inspection of private water and sewer 8 inch or larger (from connection to within 5 feet of building improvement) | $800.00 lump sum administration and project coordination + $7.00 per linear foot field inspection |
| TV Inspection (paid prior to delivery of developer agreement) | $0.60 per foot |
Source: Howard County DPZ Review and Approval of Water and Sewer Facilities for Subdivisions and Site Development fee schedule, effective July 1, 2025; Howard County Code Section 16.130 (authorizing) and Section 16.131 (scope).
Coverage Notes - What This Page Does Not Cover
Per ZoneFee's Partial-Verified Publication Standard, the items below were not closed via verified primary sources during the 2026-05-06 verification pass. They are disclosed here rather than estimated or omitted silently.
Impact-Tax-Equivalent Program (school facilities surcharge / transportation impact tax)
Maryland counties typically use a school facilities surcharge, school construction excise tax, transportation impact tax, or Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance fee-in-lieu rather than the Texas-style statutory impact fee regime under TLGC Chapter 395. Howard County's specific impact-tax-equivalent program was not located via official sources this pass. Substitute paths probed:
- howardcountymd.gov/finance/development-related-tax-information - HTTP 404
- howardcountymd.gov/finance/excise-tax - HTTP 404
- howardcountymd.gov/planning-zoning/applications-forms-fees - DPZ landing enumerates 10 FY26 fee categories; none is labeled as impact fees, school surcharge, or transportation impact tax, confirming the impact-tax program is administered outside the DPZ namespace
A future ZoneFee verification pass will target the County Council legislation archive and the FY26 Approved Budget appendix on howardcountymd.gov for school surcharge and transportation impact tax rates.
Water and Sewer Connection (Tap) Fees
Howard County DPW Bureau of Utilities administers public water and wastewater connection (tap) fees on a separate schedule from the DPZ Land Development and Zoning Fees and the DPZ Water and Sewer Facilities Review Fees published above. The DPZ Applications, Forms and Fees landing confirms only Water and Sewer Facilities Review Fees are in the DPZ namespace; tap and connection charges live under DPW Bureau of Utilities. A separate ZoneFee authority record for the DPW Bureau of Utilities tap and connection fee schedule is queued.
Proffers
Maryland counties do not use Virginia-style cash proffers. Va. Code Section 15.2-2303 does not apply outside Virginia.
Special District Fees
Columbia Association is a private community association, not a Howard County government instrumentality, and its assessments do not qualify as County development fees. No County-administered special tax district imposes development fees outside the DPZ schedules already captured (Land Development and Zoning Fees, Water and Sewer Facilities Review Fees). If a future special tax district program is enacted, this page will be re-opened.
Fee Authorities
| Authority | Fee Types | Official Website |
|---|---|---|
| Howard County Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) | Land Development and Zoning Fees; Water and Sewer Facilities Review Fees; Plan Review, Engineering Review, Forest Conservation, Soil Conservation, Stormwater Management (separate FY26 schedules - not on this page) | howardcountymd.gov/planning-zoning |
| Howard County Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits (DILP) | Building permit fees, inspection billing ($75 first hour / $50 each additional), permit transfer ($50), extension ($25/90-day), replacement ($25), technology fee (10%), failure fees ($50/$75/$125 by visit) | howardcountymd.gov/inspections-licenses-permits |
| Howard County DPW Bureau of Utilities | Water and sewer connection (tap) charges, ongoing utility rates (out of ZoneFee scope on this page; separate authority record queued) | howardcountymd.gov/public-works |
Sources
| Document | Agency | Accessed |
|---|---|---|
| DPZ Land Development and Zoning Fees FY26 Schedule (effective July 1, 2025; 2 pages) | Howard County DPZ | 2026-05-06 |
| DPZ Water and Sewer Facilities Review Fees FY26 Schedule (effective July 1, 2025; 1 page) | Howard County DPZ | 2026-05-06 |
| DPZ Applications, Forms and Fees landing | Howard County DPZ | 2026-05-05 |
| DILP Permit Fees | Howard County DILP | 2026-05-04 |
Last verified by ZoneFee: 2026-05-06. Fee schedules are subject to change. Verify current rates directly with the Howard County Department of Planning and Zoning before relying on this data for any financial decision.
This page reflects fee data sourced from the Howard County Department of Planning and Zoning FY26 fee schedules effective July 1, 2025. ZoneFee does not guarantee that fee amounts are current at the time you read this page. Fee schedules change. The DPZ Land Development and Zoning Fee Schedule and the DPZ Water and Sewer Facilities Review Fee Schedule are republished annually as part of the Howard County FY budget process. Howard County's school facilities surcharge, transportation impact tax, or Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance fee-in-lieu program (the Maryland-style impact-tax equivalent) was not located via official sources during the 2026-05-06 verification pass and is honestly disclosed as unverified rather than estimated. Howard County water and sewer connection (tap) charges are administered separately by the DPW Bureau of Utilities and are not included on this DPZ-scoped page; a separate authority record is queued. Howard County does not use Virginia-style cash proffers. Verify all current rates with Howard County DPZ before relying on this data for land acquisition, project budgeting, or any financial decision. This page is for research and due diligence reference only - it is not legal or financial advice.